Interior Door Refresh
Nothing can date a home’s interior quite like 1960’s wood doors. And nothing can instantly update your home quite like a fresh coat of paint. This interior door refresh is such an easy, budget friendly project that is really transformational.
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Materials Used:
- Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray Paint
- Foam Roller
- Door Handles
Tools Used:
- Screwdriver
BEFORE & AFTER
I honestly approached this project thinking, “they can’t get any worse.” So, what did I have to lose?
Our interior doors are original to our home. They looked dated and cheap, and no longer matched the aesthetic of the board and batten I installed in our primary bedroom. They also had old brass handles that were overdue for an update!
For such a quick and easy project, it was a huge transformation.
Project Overview
- Remove Doors
- Sand
- Apply Paint (2-3 coats)
- Hang Doors
- Install Handles
The Process
Finding the right paint color can sometimes feel like the biggest challenge of any project. I knew I wanted a “greige”—somewhere in between a grey and beige. I tested out a few colors on each door, close to the white trim:
- Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter
- Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige
- Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray
Although I wanted the doors to have contrast with the white room, it needed to be subtle. Ultimately I chose Agreeable Gray and it has since become one of my favorite colors.
After removing the doors (and old handles), I sanded each side with an orbital sander (150-220 grit). Because these doors aren’t solid wood, I wasn’t sanding to get to raw wood—it simply removed the glossy finish of the doors allowing the paint to have some texture to adhere to.
I had four doors and limited space, so I had two laying flat and two standing upright. I applied paint using a foam roller intended for doors and cabinets. Because the door was flat and had little to no texture, I needed as little nap as possible, which is why foam rollers are ideal. I found no difference in how the paint laid down on the doors laying flat versus standing upright.
With each coat of paint, I allowed several hours of drying time—three coats of paint was the magic number for this project! After the doors sat overnight, I hung them back on their hinges and installed the new, modern handles. Surprisingly, updating door hardware is super easy and only takes 1-2 minutes per door, you’ll just need a screwdriver!
Between the white trim, the greige doors and black hardware, I think I nailed a winning combination. What do you think about this interior door refresh? Do you like the lighter walls and darker doors? I’d love to hear your feedback!
